Wondering what it’s wish to set sail on the biggest cruise ship on the planet? On March 4, 2022, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Wonder of the Seas took its maiden voyage, and we had been on board to take a look at all the motion on the biggest ship on the planet. This ship, the fifth of the Oasis class ships, can accommodate as much as 6,988 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 236,857, with 18 decks. The world’s largest cruise ship is gigantic and might preserve you and your loved ones occupied for your entire crusing.
Do you wish to zip line at sea? Watch excessive divers bounce from the highest of the ship right into a pool within the aqua theater? Ride a life-sized carousel or sit in Central Park listening to jazz? All of this and far more can be found to visitors crusing on this brand-new ship.
The Wonder of the Seas is at the moment crusing out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Florida beginning March 2022, earlier than crusing to Barcelona later this spring. Our seven-day crusing visited Labadee, Haiti, San Juan Puerto Rico (the place we had a good time exploring Old Town San Juan), Nassau Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Disclosure: We acquired a complimentary media crusing on the Wonder of the Seas. All opinions are my very own. I’ve additionally paid my very own method on Royal Caribbean prior to now and have been on different press journeys.
Review of Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas – the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas
Like the opposite Oasis-class ships, Wonder of the Seas has separate neighborhood areas for leisure and actions. However, this ship now presents an eighth neighborhood. The new Suite Neighborhood, situated on the highest decks of the ship, is the place you’ll discover the Royal suite class, in addition to a mixed space with the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen (the devoted restaurant solely for suite visitors).
A stupendous suite solar deck space presents a bar, solar chairs, in addition to an infinity plunge pool with in-water pool loungers. In addition, the suite neighborhood presents the Ultimate Family Suite. This enormous suite contains two tales of enjoyable (together with sport tables, an in-suite slide, and a balcony sizzling tub) and visitors have entry to essentially the most luxurious facilities on website.
Other neighborhoods on the Wonder of the Seas embody the Boardwalk, providing a full carousel, aqua theater, Sugar Beach sweet store, youngsters’ store, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, Johnny Rockets, and Boardwalk Dog House.
Central Park is my favourite space on the ship. This peaceable atrium presents timber and vegetation, in addition to outlets and eating places together with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Park Cafe. There’s additionally the Rising Tide Bar, which strikes up and down from the Royal Promenade to the Central Park neighborhood each half-hour.
The Entertainment Place, situated on deck 4, is the place you’ll discover lots of the leisure venues on the ship. These embody Studio B, the Attic, Casino Royal and Card Room, and the Royal Theater.
Traveling with youngsters? They’ll wish to go to the Youth Zone. This space presents a Royal Escape Room (which wasn’t but open on our crusing) and the Adventure Ocean Kids Club space. Within this area, you’ll discover the AO Kids, Babies, and Junior’s areas, the play area, the workshop, and the AO theater.
The Royal Promenade is the central space of the ship. On the Wonder of the Sea, there are a number of outlets (together with the primary merchandise store), Sorrento’s pizza, Boleros, the Bionic Bar, Guest Services, the Voom web assist desk, the shore tour desk, Spotlight Karaoke, Starbucks, and Cafe Promenade.
Looking to calm down or work out in your journey? The Vitality Spa and Fitness Center on the Wonder of the Seas is large, and in addition presents the Vitality Cafe with recent juices and smoothies. Treatments on the Vitality Spa embody salon and nail providers in addition to massages, spa remedies, a thermal spa, and extra. The health middle is large with a great deal of tools together with a number of Peloton bikes.
The Sports Zone is among the extra spectacular areas on the ship. There are so many thrilling actions together with sports activities courts (for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and extra), ping-pong tables, a zipper line, mini golf, the Ultimate Abyss slides, a MovementRider, and the Wonder Playscape (a splash space for youthful youngsters). I additionally noticed fairly just a few Pickleball gamers having fun with the courts.
Activities on The Wonder of the Seas
In addition to the actions situated within the numerous neighborhoods on the Wonder of the Seas, there are such a lot of different issues to do – even when you’re at sea. These embody scheduled actions and occasions, like Captain’s Corner (Q&A with the ship’s captain), karaoke, trivia, sport exhibits, spa seminars, artwork auctions, on line casino actions, and Bingo. An inventory of those occasions, together with their location and occasions, are situated within the Royal Caribbean app and the every day Cruise Compass.
Laser Tag is obtainable at scheduled occasions within the Studio B venue. That venue, house of the ice present, additionally hosts open ice skating hours all through the crusing. Ice skates can be found to borrow, so that you gained’t have to fret about packing your individual.
There are various swimming pools on the primary pool deck. All have in-water loungers. On certainly one of our at-sea days, I loved sitting in certainly one of these loungers as I learn a e-book. There are additionally a number of sizzling tubs and ample seating across the swimming pools – each with and with out shade.
During the day, there’s a lot leisure, together with stay bands, DJs, and a large film display. Looking for a deal with? Soft-served ice cream is out there at Sprinkles, proper close to the swimming pools.
Want extra thrills? Splashaway Bay, a youngsters’ splash space, can be situated on the pool deck and presents small slides and splash zones. There are additionally the three thrill waterslides of the Perfect Storm. There are additionally two climbing partitions situated one stage above the Boardwalk. You additionally gained’t wish to miss the Ultimate Abyss – a dry slide that goes from the sports activities deck right down to the Boardwalk.
Those 16+ who want to calm down will wish to go to the Solarium. This space presents plunge swimming pools, whirlpools, lounge chairs, and a bar in a fantastically lined, climate-controlled space. The Solarium was my favourite place to sit down and calm down throughout our crusing on the Wonder of the Seas.
Teens shall be pleased to seek out devoted areas for them to take pleasure in. These embody the Social100 and the Patio personal areas.
Restaurants on the Wonder of the Seas
Like the opposite Royal Caribbean ships, the Wonder of the Seas presents each complimentary and specialty eating places with a great deal of eating choices. Complimentary eating places and cafes are included in your cruise fare, whereas specialty eating areas are provided at a further charge.
The Main Dining Room is the usual place to take pleasure in dinner. There are two separate eating occasions, along with My Time eating, the place you may go to at any time in a particular window. Reservations for My Time eating may also be made within the app or in the primary eating room.
There’s additionally the Windjammer Cafe, the buffet on the ship. The Wonder of the Seas presents the biggest Windjammer but, and it’s completely enormous, wrapping round a complete part of the ship. There are a great deal of seating, together with some quieter tables within the middle between the 2 buffet areas. Currently, there are crew members serving buffet objects and getting drinks, though I’m undecided if that may change sooner or later.
Other complimentary venues embody the Park Cafe (sandwiches and salads), Sorrento’s Pizza, Cafe Promenade, El Loco Fresh (recent Mexican meals by the Sports Zone), Solarium Bistro, and Boardwalk Dog House (sizzling canine on the Boardwalk).
There are quite a few specialty eating areas on the ship. These can both be booked and bought individually or as a part of the Unlimited Dining Package. Make your specialty eating reservations as quickly as attainable, as these do e-book up.
New on the Wonder of the Seas is the Mason Jar, providing upscale Southern consolation meals. The Mason Jar presents brunch and dinner, and we had been in a position to take pleasure in a scrumptious brunch on our crusing. We tried the Red Velvet pancakes and deviled eggs, and so they had been completely scrumptious.
Don’t miss the drinks – which embody a PB&J Old Fashioned, which has a miniature peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a garnish. The Mason Jar bar is open to visitors with out reservations, so when you can’t get in to eat you should still wish to cease by for a drink and to benefit from the band. Light bites are additionally provided on the bar.
We additionally loved dinner at Wonderland, an revolutionary and imaginative restaurant that can be provided on the Odyssey of the Seas. Wonderland is an expertise, however the meals can be scrumptious. As you enter the restaurant, you’ll be handled to the attractive decor and shall be handed a clean menu. Use the included paintbrushes and water to disclose the contents of the menu.
Your server will choose your starters, however you’ll be capable to select your predominant entree. I liked my Branzino entree, and would positively choose it once more. If you aren’t an adventurous eater, nevertheless, I believe I’d suggest making an attempt one other restaurant.
As a local New Englander, I used to be particularly excited to attempt Hooked Seafood. This specialty seafood restaurant presents a uncooked bar at sea, in addition to seafood and shellfish specialties (together with lobster). My favourite merchandise was the soft-shelled craft, though the lobster was scrumptious as effectively.
Other specialty eating places on the Wonder of the Seas embody Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Izumi, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (a la carte), Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar (the wine bar presents a la carte appetizers), Johnny Rockets, Sugar Beach, and Starbucks.
Looking for a drink? The ship is stuffed with small bars each indoors and outside. These embody the Lime and Coconut pool bars, the Trellis Bar, Cantina Fresca (new Mexican bar at El Loco Fresh), the Bionic Bar, the Schooner Bar, Rising Tide, Bionic Bar, Wipeout Bar, Cask and Clipper, and the Vue Bar (a brand-new bar exterior Solarium providing attractive ocean views). Music Hall is one other nice bar venue providing stay music.
Related: Read our evaluate of Allure of the Seas, sister ship to the Wonder.
Amenities on the Wonder of the Sea
This enormous ship presents so many incredible facilities for households. Some are provided freed from cost whereas others can be found for a further charge.
Voom Internet is obtainable to suite visitors at no cost, and to different visitors for a every day charge. There are two choices – one with customary web and one with streaming capabilities. On my Royal Caribbean sailings, I’ve at all times been impressed with the standard of the web – particularly at sea.
If you wish to use the complimentary Royal Caribbean app, you utilize the web for something on the app with out having a Voom package deal. The app is an effective way to remain in contact with every little thing occurring on the ship. You also can see deck plans, make exercise/restaurant reservations, and verify your account stability by way of the app. While there was once a charge for messaging different passengers in your cruise by way of the app, that’s now free.
There are additionally a number of outlets on board that provide many alternative objects. In addition to Royal Caribbean-themed merchandise, you’ll discover watches, purses, jewellery, fragrance, cosmetics, in addition to private necessities. There are additionally self-service merchandising machines providing many objects that you will have forgotten at house.
Staterooms on the Wonder of the Seas
During our crusing on the Wonder of the Seas, we had an ocean-view balcony stateroom. I discovered this room to be actually snug. It has a king mattress, a pull-out couch, a number of space for storing, a rest room with a bathe, a large-screen tv, a desk, and a fridge. The balcony is giant sufficient for 2 chairs and a small desk and was the right spot to take pleasure in a cup of espresso whereas watching the ocean.
These staterooms have a mixture of bathe gel/shampoo. If you’d favor to have a separate shampoo and a conditioner, I’d suggest bringing them your self or buying them within the merchandising machines.
Because of the design of the Oasis Class ships, balcony rooms could have views apart from the ocean. The Wonder of the Seas additionally presents balcony staterooms with a Central Park or Boardwalk view. There are additionally Ocean View rooms with a porthole window and no balcony.
Suites on the Wonder of the Seas embody junior suites, grand suites, and the Ultimate Family Suite. I had the chance to tour a grand suite. It presents a balcony, small seating space, lavatory with double sinks and bathtub, king mattress, pull-out sofa, espresso maker, and extra. I actually loved the Suite Neighborhood – the proximity to Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, and the Suite Sundeck is a big profit.
Entertainment on Wonder of the Seas
Like different Royal Caribbean ships, the Wonder of the Seas has some incredible leisure choices on the schedule. Some of the everlasting leisure wasn’t 100% full, however we actually loved what we noticed.
InTENse is an all-female aqua present held within the Aqua Theater alongside the Boardwalk. It’s excessive vitality and contains slackline performers, excessive divers, dancers, and a lot extra. We received a preview of the present and it was incredible.
There’s additionally an ice present, held in Studio B within the Entertainment neighborhood. This present celebrates the 4 seasons and is superb. I’d positively see it greater than as soon as if it was attainable.
Later this 12 months, the Wonder of the Seas will debut Effectors 2, a continuation of the present first proven on the Odyssey of the Seas. In the meantime, there are many different leisure choices together with Tap Factory, magicians, comedians, and musical acts. We missed seeing the present Voices however heard incredible issues about it.
Crew Members on the Wonder of the Seas
While the meals, zip line, outlets, water slides, swimming pools, carousel, and different facilities/actions are wonderful, the crew members are really what makes the expertise particular. During our crusing, we had been so impressed with each crew member we encountered. They actually regarded to make our expertise distinctive.
Which exercise on the Wonder of the Seas could be your favourite?
See our internet story right here.
